Our Teachers

Apryl Swynenburg

Apryl is the mother of two daughters who have attended Apple House Preschool. She loves everything about co-op, especially the sense of community and the friendships that are formed and fostered in this setting.

Apryl graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She worked for a year at a therapeutic boarding school in Connecticut before returning to Indiana. Once back in Indiana, Apryl began teaching elementary at Ben Davis schools before starting her own family.

Prior to becoming our teacher, Apryl operated an in-home daycare providing childcare for teachers’ children. She definitely has a love of children and a love of learning!

For the 2019-20 school year, Apryl will be teaching one section of our Dumplings class, as well as our Jacks class.

Ashley Shanklin

Ashley’s journey at Apple House began as a co-op parent and co-president on our parent-run board. In the fall of 2018, we were excited to welcome her as our newest teacher. Ashley holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University and her student teaching took place at the Indianapolis Public School Center for Inquiry #84. The Center for Inquiry is an inquiry-based learning environment where she created student led curriculum and implemented it in the classroom. After college Ashley and her husband moved to Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX where she taught Pre-K in a military setting developing and using a play-based curriculum. Ashley believes that “young learners are intelligent, resourceful, and creative individuals who grow, develop, and learn at different rates.” Ashley has said that her “time and involvement at Apple House has reignited her love for education.”

Outside of Apple House Ashley enjoys spending time with her family: her husband, Harley, two children, Leo and Lennon, and two dogs, Pixie and Louis. Ashley loves the Indianapolis 500. She enjoys running and completed her first full marathon in the fall of 2017 and has run multiple half marathons.

For the 2019-20 school year, Ashley will be teaching both sections of our Seeds class, as well as one section of our Dumplings class.